4.5 STARS

It’s truly hard to believe that this is M. Jay’s debut novel.  The raw emotion and depth in this novel is something expected from an experienced novelist.  But M. Jay does a fantastic job with this book.  I felt every emotion that both Sin and Jake were going through.  The chemistry between them is just outstanding and literally jumps off the page, well my kindle, but you get my point.  I found myself rooting for them from the get go.  The characters are super realistic and I immediately fell in love with all the members of Sin City.

I hope she writes Adam’s story next – hint hint, wink, wink…. I would love to see what is behind his facade.

 

Read the First Chapter HERE!

“Get up, Jake.” I’m surprised when she offers me a hand. Our fingers intertwine, and for the first time in days, I feel the frayed edges of my world begin to knit back together. I get to my feet, and she immediately drops my hand as if the contact burned.

“What do you want?” Her arms wrap tight around her middle like she’s trying to hold herself together.

I’m finally face-to-face with Sin and I’ve got… nothing. My brain is blank. Every practiced speech and contrite apology are gone. My eyes are glued to hers and fuck me, I can’t think of one word. After holding my gaze for a little less than a breath, her eyes glaze over with tears, and her teeth sink into her bottom lip to stop the trembling.

She takes a step back over the threshold, doorknob in her hand, preparing to close the door in my face.

“Hold on.” I press a palm against the door, keeping it cracked, to wedge myself between the opening. I close the space between us. The need to feel her, smell her, be in her space, and have her in mine propelling me forward. My hand slides around the back of her neck pulling her toward me. She stumbles into my arms and trips over her own feet, but like every other time we’ve touched, it’s right.

Finally, the pressure in my chest lets up, and I breathe easy. I rest my forehead against hers and whisper against her lips, “I still want you, Sin. Only you.” I close my eyes against the accusations in hers. This close, her breath is co-mingled with mine, and I can smell the faint scent of almond from her shampoo.

“Come back home,” I beg. My lips move over hers, but she doesn’t kiss me back. “I need you. I need us.” I breathe out on a plea.

This time when I seek her lips, she yields but it’s not with sweet abandon. It’s stiff and tinged with regret. This kiss is heartbreak played out with the brush of lips and the slide of tongues.

And it hurts.

• No, she doesn’t live in a hotel.
• No, she has never been a stripper although she does know some.
• Prostitution is absolutely illegal in Clark County (Las Vegas)!
• And what happens in Vegas does indeed stay in Vegas.  
• M. Jay earned a degree in words and stories, and after fifteen plus years of doing everything other than writing, she penned her first novel.

Giving a voice to characters, that are strong yet fragile, that are sometimes uncomfortably real, that express love in dirtiest ways with the sweetest sentiments is honestly a dream come true.

♦ ♦ ♦